2005 HURRICANE SEASON TIED FOR
BUSIEST ON RECORD
Wilma Exhausts List of Storm Names

Oct.
17, 2005 — Tropical
Storm Wilma brewing over the northwestern Caribbean Sea takes the
tally of named storms this year to 21, tying 1933 as the busiest hurricane
season since records began in 1851. Wilma also is the final name on
the 2005 list of storm names. Any additional tropical storms and hurricanes
that form this season will be classified by the NOAA
National Hurricane Center using the Greek alphabet, beginning with
Alpha. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical
Storm Wilma taken at 9:15 a.m. EDT on Oct. 17, 2005, as the storm churns
in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Click
here for high resolution version. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Four storms—Stan,
Tammy, Vince and Wilma—have formed this month and is double the
October average of two storms. Six is the record, set in October 1950
and 1887.

"Although
activity in the Atlantic Basin decreases as the hurricane season enters
its final month of November, tropical storms and hurricanes are still
possible," said Scott Kiser, Tropical Cyclone Program manager for
the NOAA National Weather Service.
NOAA records show that one storm forms in November, on average, once
every three years. As many as two storms have formed in November, most
recently in 2001.

Of the
21 named storms that have formed since the season began June 1st, 11
have become hurricanes, including five major hurricanes. This is far
above the seasonal average of 10 named storms, six hurricanes and two
major hurricanes. "With one additional hurricane, this season will
tie 1969 for having the most hurricanes," added Kiser.

NOAA,
an agency of the U.S. Department
of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national
safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related
events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal
and marine resources.